Camera



W. F. CARR Oct. 6, 1942.

CAMERA Filed Dec. 7, 1939 rllil Patented Oct. 6, 194.2

wmn'm F. om,

Michigan CAMERA Ann Arbor, Mich., International Indnstri assignor to es, Inc., a corporation of Appuesuen neeemb'ee 7, 193s, sensi Ne. 308,059

' (Cl. c'z-zs) I 1o claims.

'This invention relates to camerasand more particularly to mechanism, for operating a iiash light in properl synchronism with a camera shutter.

To obtain the best results, Vthe viiash .contact should be made suiiiciently prior to the complete opening ofthe shutter to compensate for the time necessary to lheat the flash filament, thus obtaining the greatest degree of light intensity when the shutter is fully open.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide mechanism associated with a camera shutter whereby a flashlight circuit is completed and broken synchronously with the opening and closing movements of the shutter mechanism. i

A further object is to provide` a flash light switch within a camera casing and associated with the shutter actuating mechanism to properly synchronize the ignition of a Vflash lamp with the opening of the shutter.

Another object resides in the; provision of a novel ash light switch associated with actuating means carried by the setting member ofa camera. e

Another objectv resides in 1 thev provision of means for controlling the speed'at which the shutters of cameras are opened and closed.v y

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined camera andseparable ash'lamp and battery unit arranged to be susceptible of easy balance and support in the hands of thel operator.

speed control cam and its associated connection to a gearescapement mechanism.

. Referring now to the drawing, a camera of the miniature type 'is shown and comprises a casing I0 which may be preferably of moldable material formed to provide an interior compartment-'II separated from the spool chambers, a

circular drum chamberIZ, a range ilnder opening I3 and view finder opening Inl,I a centrally disposed shutter housing I6 to receive the mechanism of a suitable blade type shutter Il having the usual-spring actuated shutter operating ring (not shown) associated therewith to be engaged by the shutter actuating mechanism..

The shutter actuating mechanism comprises generally a drum I1 adjacent one end of the casing Ill and rotatably mounted upon a bushing I5 which, in turn, is non-rotatably mounted upon a square pin 25 carried by the casing.. A small fiat coil spring 30 kmay be positioned in the drum I1 and secured at its outer end to the periphery of the drum as at 40, its inner end being connected to the bushing I5 asl at I5.

Thus, by correctly positioning the bushing I5 on the square pin 25,4 any desired xed tensioning of the spring 30 maybe effected.v

A fiat carrier-band .20 .extends transversely' V across the camera casing from the drum II to they drum of lasetting or primingmember I9 having'a priming lever 2Iassociated therewith for -manual control. 1 The fiat carrier band 20 is pro- 1 .vided'with a spring pressed pawl 22 adapted to Other objects and advantages ofthe invention- I will become apparent from a reading of the following description in connection wth'the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a minia ture type camera with the front cover plate-and lens removed and showing'an embodiment ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a photofiash lamp and battery unit adapted to be associated with the camera of Fig. 1.

Fig.v 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the setting member and flash contact switch mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the contact'switch and setting member taken substantially on the line 4"-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the shutter actuating motor mechanism taken substantiallyl along the'line 5 5 of Fig 1, and;

actuate" the'shutter. operating ring to trip thev shutter blades when the pawlV is moved by the carrier band 20 transversely to the right in Fig.

1. Movement of the carrier band 2li to the right,

in Fig. 1, under the action of the spring drum I1 willcause actuation of the shutter blades I8, and movement of the carrier band 20 to the left by manually rotating the setting member I9 counter-clockwise again tensions the drum 'I'I and places the mechanism in cocked position wherein the stop 22 of the setting member is automatically held 'against clockwise rotation by a spring pressed release pin 23 having a slot 24 therein to permit the passage of the stop thereby when the release pinis manually depressed.

AssumingA the camera to be in cocked position, a manual depression of the release pin 23`against the action of its yspring permits the setting member I9 to move clockwise in response tothe pull transverse carrierband 2li. V As the tripping pawl passes the shutter operating ring, the shutters I8-are"openedfand automatically closed. To

2 again cock the camera, the priming lever 2| is manually moved counter-clockwise bringing the stop 22 of the setting member to a locked position relative to the release Apin 23.

For optional use with the camera thus described and shown in Fig, 1, a separable flash light unit is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a battery casing 26 containing a pair of dry cell batteries 21, a lamp socket 28 having a photofiash lamp 29 therein provided with a reflector 59. The battery casing 26 is provided' with a pair of vertically spaced contact plugs 29 and 3| to be received by similarly .spaced plug jacks 32 and 33 suitably carried in an end of the camera casing.

It may be here noted that the plug jacks 32 and 33 are positioned at one end of the camera casing and the shutter release pin 23 is positioned adjacent the opposite end thereof. This arrangement is provided so that the camera may be easily used either with or without the flash light unit. With the flash light unit in coupled relation to the camera, the release pin will be positioned at the right hand of the operator leaving his left hand free to support and balance the oppositeend of the camera having the battery and lamp unit thereon. Thus, the entire unit is nicely balanced and the operators right hand is free to actuate the release pin 23 without interference.

The jack plug 33 may be electrically connected to a switch terminal 34 positoned adjacent the opposite end of the casing i6 by a conductor 35 extending diagonally upwardly to a point above the shutter unit where it may extend along a transverse groove 36 to the switch terminal. The other plug jack 32 is provided with a small ribbon of electrically conductive material and likewise a second switch terminal 38 is also pro'4 vided with a similar metallic ribbon 39 overlying the edges of the casing I0. With the metallic.

cover plate (not shown) in position, electrical contact will be established between the plu-3r jack 32 and the switch terminal 38.

As shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, a flexible and resilient switch actuating member 4| is positioned 41 is bent to form a curved projection 48 to be engaged by the projection 46 during a portion of its travel for depressing the switch to closed position,

With particular reference to Fig. 4, wherein a side view of the switch element 41 is shown, it will be noted that it is of diierent widths, the

, wider portion 49 being positioned nearest the diametrically across the setting member |9 to rotate therewith and is provided adjacent one end with an arcuate slot 42 to receive the shank of a securing and adjusting screw 43 carried by the setting member I9. 'l'he switch actuating member is provided adjacent its opposite end with a wider arcuate slot 44 to permit access to an adjusting screw 45 which, in turn, provides an adjustment for the setting member I9 relative to its drum (not shown). Thus, the member 4| is l secured at one end only and is suiciently flexible to be sprung away from the setting member i9 and to again resume its normal position.

The outer end of the switch actuating member 4| is provided with a projection 46 having rounded faces thereon to engage a connecting switch element 41 for bridging the gap between the switch terminals 34 and 38.

As shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 3, the switch element 41 is formed of resilient material, fixed at one end adjacent an end of the camera casing to the terminal 36. and arranged to normally remain in open position. It may be arcuately shaped from end to end and lie in andconform to the arcuate path of movement of the projection 46 on the switch actuating member 4|. At one point adjacent the limit of travel of the switch actuating projection 46 in a counter-clockwise direction, the switch member fixed end thereof and adjacent the beginning of the path of travel of the projection 46, the narrower portion 5| thereof extending from the end of the wider portion to the free end of the switch element. Along the upper edge of the switch 41, the -wider portion 49 is connected with the narrower'portion 5| by a rounded cam surface 52.

The parts are so arranged that when the setting member |9 is in cocked position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, the projection 46 on the switch actuating member 4| is `positioned in a counter-clockwise direction far enough beyond the switch projection 48 to permit the switch to assume its normal open position. Upon 'release of the setting member, the projection 46 with itsv rounded surface willstrike the projection 48 of' shutter blades at .approximately the moment of the greatest light intensity. As the projection 46 passes the wider portion 49 of the switch, the narrower portion 5| thereof will pass under the projection 46 permitting the switch to open as shown in Figs. l and 4.

To prevent the switch 41 from being closed when the setting member is re-set to cocked position, the switch actuating member 4| is formed of flexible, resilient material andsecured at one end only so that when the projection 46 reaches the wider portion 49 of the switch, it will ride up over the cam surface 52 and along the upper edge of the wider portion 49 until the projecting portion 48 is passed, whereupon the actuating i member 4| and projection 46 will resilientlyl spring back to their normal position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

For varying and controlling the shutter speed.

a gear escapement mechanism 55 is employed and comprises a series of meshing gears one of pivoted lever 58 connected at one end to a rod 6| which, in turn, may be connected to one arm of a bell crank 62 carried by the camera casing and connected to a tensioning spring 53. The. other arm of the bell crank 62 may be actuated by a loosely pivoted arm 64 which, in turn, may be varied as to vertical position by means of a manually operable cam 68, shown in Fig. 6, which may overlie the drum |1 and be provided with a knob (not shown) exteriorly of the camera casing.

The escapement mechanism 55 comprises a star wheel 1| and pal-let12. This star wheel and pallet are driven by suitable gears 13 and 14, the gear 14 carrying the pin 56. The small retarding spring, not shown tends to turn the gear 14 in a clock-wise direction as shown in Fig. 1. The

gear, however, is held against rotation by the pin Il which. engages the pivoted vlever 58. .By adjusting' the lever nto'diilerent positions by means of .the'bell crank B2 and manually operable cam l0, the gear-`|4v is permitted torotate in a clock-wise direction' until the pin 56 abuts 1 against the lever 58. The pin 56 thus moves up into the path ofthe projection 51 and is engaged by the projection 51 during the opening and clos- Y ing of the shutter. 'I'he position of the pin 5S .determines theduration of the engagement withv together with associated shutter opening and closing mechanism is disclosed and claimed in copending Serial No. 307,891 filed December 6, l1939.' Broad aspects of the combined synchronizing switch and 'shutter cocking member are disclosed and claimed in copending Serial No. 307,892 filed December 6, 1939.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in construction and design without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention which is to be flimited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Ina camera having a casing, a shutter, operating means for said shutter including an oscillatable setting member in said casing andan electric-flash lamp ignition circuit, a switch in said circuit urged'normally to open circuit position, said switch being provided with surfaces of dierent widths Vadjacent said setting memberpresentingedge surfaces of varying height with respect to said setting member, a projection rigid in its oscillatable direction and flexible in its axial direction on said setting member vpositioned and arranged to engage-.the wider of said surfaces l .effecting aclosureof'said switch as the setting member begins to move toward shutter opening positionv and to-then pass over the edge portion `Aof the narrower of said surfaces .permitting saidv switch to assume-its open position, whereby, when said'setting member is rotated toward cocked position, said projection will ride over the edge of said wider surface circuit position.

2. In'a camera having a Icasing, a shutter,

leaving said switch inopen operating means for said shutter, including an oscillatable settingniember in said'l casing andan electric flash lamp ignition circuit, a. switch in said circuit urged normally to "open -circuit .position, said switch including a curved resilient strip having different widths-throughout its length adjacent theperiphery-of said setting member, a projection rigid in its'oscillata'ble direction and 3. In a camera, a casing. normally open flash lamp ignition switch within said casing,a.rock able'shutter cocking member within the casing adjacent said switch, a flexible switch actuating element mounted on -said cocking member, said flexible'element being substantially rigid in the direction of .oscillation of said cocking member and flexible in the direction of the laxis of said cocking member, and cooperating engageable formations on said switch and flexible element for momentarily positively closing said switch during movement of said cocking member away from cocked position and positively causing ilexure and displacement of said element to avoid closure of said switch by said element'during movement of said cocking member toward cocked position.

4. In the camera defined in claim 3, said flexible switch actuating element comprising a thin plate of metal or equivalent resilient material.

5.' In the camera defined in claim 3, said ilexible switch actuating element being clamped to said cocking member at a fulcrum point remote from said switch.

6. In a camera, a casing, a normally open flash lamp ignitionl switch within said casing, a rockable shutter cocking member 'within the casing adjacent said switch, a flexible plate rigid in the direction of oscillation of said shutter cocking member carried by said shutter cocking member, a projection on said plate adapted to engage and momentarily close said switch during movement of said cocking member away from cocked position, and a cam formation on said switch engageable by said projection adapted to flex and displace said plate to avoid closure of said switch by said projection during movement of said cocking member toward cocked position.

' 7. In a camera casing, a normally open flash lamp ignition switch in said casing, a rockable member, a nat-surfaced shutter setting member angularly adjustable on said rockable member and av fastening device for holding said members in adjusted position upstanding from said setting member, a flat flexible plate rigid in the direction of oscillation of said setting member and flexible in a direction to avoid closure of said switch during shutter setting operation angularly adjustably mounted on said setting member, said plate being clamped to said setting member at a point remote from said fastening device and being .apertured to accommodate and render accessible l' ing having a switch blade flexible `8. In a camera having a casing. a normally open flash lamp ignition switch within said casdirection and rigid in another direction, a

rockable shutter cocking member within said casing ladjacent said switch, a switch actuating element rigid in the direction of oscillation of said cocking member and exible inv another direction carried by said cocking member, a projection on'said switch actuating element adapted .to engage saidy switch blade to ilex the latter for momentarily closing the switch during movement of the cocking member away from cocked posiyieldable in itsaxial direction carried by the setting member and positioned to ride on vthe edge of said strip and over thewider portion thereof during the setting movement and to engage the wider portion of said strip' to close said switch as the setting member begins to move towards shutter opening position.

tion, andveam'means on said switch blade engageable by said projection during movement of said cocking member' away from cocked position, said cam means utilizing the rigidity of said switch bladel in said othery direction to flex said switchy actuatingelement and displace sai'l projection until it is inoperative to close said switch during in one aaeaiov 4 and said switch blade and said element being rigid in substantially normal disposed directions. and cooperating engageable formations on said switch blade and said switch actuating element for momentarily positively closing said switch during movement of said cocking member away from cocked position and positively causing ilexure and displacement of said element to avoid closure oi' said switch by said element during movement of said cooking member toward cocked position.

WILLIAM F'. CARR. 

